Ribbon reels having severing and curling means



A. K. LUBIN June 27, 1967 RIBBON HEELS HAVING SEVERING AND CURLING MEANS Filed May 19, 1965 INVENTOR. A /v/n K. Lubin ATTOR/VfYS I II I.

United States Patent 3,327,915 RIBBON REELS HAVING SEVERING AND CURLING MEANS Alvin K. Lubin, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to American Greetings Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 457,007 6 Claims. (Cl. 22559) This invention relates generally to spools or reels for holding decorative, gift-wrapping type ribbon and more particularly to a ribbon reel having associated therewith cutting and/ or curling means.

The invent-ion has for its primary object the provision of a device of the aforesaid nature which is characterized by its structural simplicity, its inexpensive manufacturing costs, the attractive forms in which it may be made, and the particularly effective manner in which it performs its function.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a reel upon which ribbon is Wound in the usual manner and which has means incorporated therewith which are utilized to cut or aid in curling the ribbon.

Another object is to provide a ribbon reel of the above type wherein a wall portion of the reel is slotted and provided with a cutting and/ or curling edge.

Still another object is to provide a ribbon reel of the above type having circumferential flanges for containing the ribbon and wherein at least one of said flanges is apertured and provided with a cutting and/or curling edge.

Further objects of the present invention, and a number of its advantages, will be referred to in or will be evident from the following description of three embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ribbon reel according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary section showing cutting and curling edge portions of the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 showing a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6.

Before the articles illustrated are specifically described, it is to be understood that the invention here involved is not limited to the structural details or arrangement of parts shown since ribbon reels embodying the present invention may take various forms. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation since the scope of the present invention is denoted by the appended claims.

Referring now to the first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribbon reel of this invention comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 10 of relatively short axial dimension around which a length of ribbon R is wound. The ends of the cylindrical body portion 10 are provided with circumferentially continuous, radiating wall-like flanges 11 and 12 between which the wound ribbon is contained and which have a radial dimension extending outwardly from said body portion commensurate with the amount of ribbon that is wound upon the reel.

As herein illustrated, the reel of this invention is preferably integrally formed from a rigid plastic material. An integrally formed wall-like Web 13 projects radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 10 and is axially disposed between the ends of said body portion substantially in the middle thereof. The web 13 as herein illustrated has a straight upper edge 14 and an elongated slot 15 disposed parallel with and adjacent to said upper edge. As well shown in FIG. 2, the lower edge of the slot 15 has a bevel 16 and a sharp edge portion 17. The slot 15 is of such length that the ribbon R can pass readily therethrough.

The sharp edge portion 17 of the slot 15 provides a cutting edge for cutting the ribbon R. As best shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon R, after having been unrolled to the extent desired, is threaded through the slot 15 and pressed against one side of the web 13 as indicated by the arrow X. By pulling sharply downwardly on the ribbon on the opposite side of the web from the arrow X, said ribbon may be neatly cut to the desired length.

The second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 3-5 is similar to the first embodiment and is also preferably integrally formed from a rigid plastic material. Said second embodiment comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 20 having radiating wall-like end flanges 21 and 22. An inwardly projecting wall-like web 23 is pro vided, said web having a straight upper edge 24 as in the first form of the invention. The web 23 of the second form of the invention differs fro-m the web 13 of the first form in that it is disposed coplanar with the flange 22 adjacent to one end of the body portion 20 and in that it is provided with two slots 25 and 26 adjacent to and parallel with the straight upper edge 24.

The lower edge of the upper slot 25 has a bevel 27 and a sharp edge portion 28 is adapted for cutting ribbon in the manner described in connection with the sharp edge portion 17 of the first embodiment of the invention. The slot '26 is provided with a bevel 29 and a flat edge portion 30 and is adapted for curling a ribbon rather than cutting it.

One form of ribbon which is popularly used today for wrapping gift packages is commonly referred to as curling ribbon because of its characteristic of forming into a series of tight curls when rubbed briskly in a lengthwise direction by the laterally disposed edge of a fingernail, a pair of scissors, or a similar semisharp object. If the reel of the second embodiment of the invention is used for holding curling ribbon as indicated at R in FIG. 4, said ribbon may be threaded through the slot 26 and drawn briskly and tightly across the relatively dulled upper edge 30 whereby the ribbon is caused to curl in the manner illustrated.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a third form of the invention in which the reel thereof comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 40 having radiating, wall-like end flanges 41 and 42 similar to the flanges 11 and 12 of the first embodiment or 21 and 22 of the second embodiment. In the third embodiment, the flanges 41 and 42 project radially outwardly from the body portion 40 a distance greater than that which would be taken up by ribbon R" wound upon said body portion. This excess in the radial dimension of the flanges 41 and 42 provides means outwardly of the roller ribbon R" for providing cutting and/or curling edges of the type described in the first two forms of the invention.

As well shown in FIG. 6, a cutting slot 43 is provided in the flange 41 adjacent to the periphery thereof, said slot 43 intersecting the periphery of said flange whereby the ribbon R may be inserted laterally into the slot rather than being threaded therethrough. The lower edge of the slot 43 has a bevel 44 and a sharp edge portion 45 similar to the bevels 16 and 27 and the edge portions 17 and 28 of the first two embodiments of the invention. It will be readily appreciated that any desired length of the ribbon R" may be cut by inserting the ribbon sideways 3 into the slot 43 and cutting across the sharp edge portion 45.

Diametrically opposite the slot 43, the flange 41 is provided with a second slot 46 having a bevel 47 and a flat edge portion 48 similar to the bevel 29 and flat edge portions 30 of the second embodiment of the invention (FIG. 5). If the ribbon R" is of the curling type, it can be threaded through the slot 46 and curled across the semisharp lower edge thereof to cause it to curl in the manner of the ribbon R illustrated in FIG. 4.

It will be understood that the wall 13 of the first embodiment of the invention may be provided with both a curling and a cutting edge as in the second embodiment or it may be provided with a curling edge alone. Similarly, the third embodiment of the invention may be provided with one or both of the slots 43 and 46 for either cutting or curling the ribbon.

It will be further understood that many changes in the details of the invention as herein described and illustrated may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ribbon reel comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion adapted to receive a length of ribbon Wound thereupon; radiating flanges carried at the ends of said body portion for containing the ribbon therebetween; a walllike web carried by said body portion perpendicular to the axis thereof and disposed within the inner periphery of said body portion intermediate the ends of said body portion; means defining an elongated slot in said web of sufficient dimensions to receive the ribbon therethrough; one edge of said slot being beveled and providing a sharp cutting edge adapted for cutting the ribbon.

2. A ribbon reel comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion adapted to receive a length of ribbon wound thereupon; radiating flanges carried at the ends of said body portion for containing the ribbon therebetween; a Walllike web carried by said body portion and disposed within the inner periphery of said portion coplanar with one of said radiating flanges; means defining an elongated slot in said web of suflicient dimensions to receive the ribbon therethrough; one edge of said slot being beveled and providing a sharp cutting edge adapted for cutting the ribbon.

3. A ribbon reel comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion adapted to receive a length of curling ribbon wound thereupon; radiating flanges carried at the ends of said body portion for containing the ribbon therebetween; a wall-like web carried by said body portion and disposed Within the inner periphery of said body portion coplanar with one of said radiating flanges; means defining a pair of elongated slots in said web of suflicient dimensions to receive the ribbon therethrough; one edge of one of said slots providing a sharp cutting edge for cutting the ribbon; and one edge of the other of said slots providing a semi sharp curling edge for curling the ribbon.

4. A ribbon reel comprising a cylindrical body portion adapted to receive a length of curling ribbon wound thereupon; radiating flanges carried at the ends of said body portion for containing said ribbon therebetween; means defining a first elongated slot in one of said flanges, said slot opening at the eriphery of said one of said flanges whereby the ribbon is insertable laterally into said slot; one edge of said slot being sharpened and providing a cutting edge for cutting ribbon insertable in said slot; means defining a second elongated slot in one of said flanges; one edge of said second mentioned slot providing a semisharp curling edge for curling the ribbon.

5. A ribbon reel comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion adapted to receive a length of ribbon wound thereupon; a radial flange portion carried by said body portion at least at one end thereof; and means defining slot means in said flange portion through which said ribbon may be passed, one edge of said slot means being of sharpened character and providing a cutting edge for the ribbon extending through said slot means, another edge of said slot means being of semi-sharp character to enable the ribbon extending through said slot means to be curled.

6. A reel for holding gift-Wrapping type ribbon comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion adapted to receive a length of ribbon wound thereupon; a wall-like web carried by said body portion perpendicular to the axis thereof and disposed within the inner periphery of said body portion; means defining an elongated slot in said web of sufficient dimensions to receive the ribbon therethrough; and means defining a bevel at one edge of said slot whereby said one edge is adapted to act upon the ribbon when the ribbon is brought into contact therewith in preparation of the ribbon for wrapping a package.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 589,341 8/1897 Dodd 22562 1,704,474 3/1929 Hayden et al 225 62 X 2,759,545 8/1956 Rizza 225-61 X 2,930,479 3/1960 Lowe 20652 WILLIAM W. DYER, ]R., Primary Examiner. JAMES M. MEISTER, Examiner. 

1. A RIBBON REEL COMPRISING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LENGTH OF RIBBON WOUND THERE UPON; RADIATING FLANGES CARRIED AT THE ENDS OF SAID BODY PORTION FOR CONTAINING THE RIBBON THEREBETWEEN; A WALLLIKE WEB CARRIED BY SAID BODY PORTION PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS THEREOF AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID BODY PORTION INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID BODY PORTION; MEANS DEFINING AN ELONGATED SLOT IN SAID WEB OF SUFFICIENT DIMENSION TO RECEIVE THE RIBBON THERETHROUGH; ONE EDGE OD SAID SLOT BEING BEVELED AND PROVIDING A SHARP CUTTING EDGE ADAPTED FOR CUTTING THE RIBBON. 